Words with the same meaning but a different feel

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Gentle concern, not alarm. Sentence: Since the move, the new student has seemed ____ in class. Zee needs a word that matches both the degree and the judgment. Which word fits the goal?

   • withdrawn
   • resentful
   • tranquil
   • reserved
2. 2.

   Strong, happy excitement. Sentence: When the final whistle blew, the fans were ____. Bo needs a word that matches both the degree and the judgment. Which word fits the goal?

   • ecstatic
   • frantic
   • restless
   • keen
3. 3.

   Strong praise. Sentence: The manager called the night nurse a ____ worker whose energy never ran out. Tala needs a word that matches both the degree and the judgment. Which word fits the goal?

   • diligent
   • tireless
   • plodding
   • compulsive

4. Read this first

   Draft

   Ms. Ortega said the permit had been lost in her office. Revision: Ms. Ortega admitted the permit had been lost in her office.

5. 4.

   Noah compares the draft and the revision. What changes when admitted replaces said?

   • Nothing changes, because said and admitted both report that the permit had been lost in her office.
   • The revision suggests Ms. Ortega accepts a fault she would rather not own; said simply reports it.
   • Admitted is a legal term, so the revision says that Ms. Ortega broke a law by losing the permit.
   • The revision adds a new fact: that the permit was later found, so the office was not at fault in the end.
6. 5.

   The senator agreed that the amendment had flaws. Revision: The senator conceded that the amendment had flaws. Luz compares the draft and the revision. What changes when conceded replaces agreed?

   • The revision says the amendment has more flaws than the draft does, since conceded is a bigger word.
   • Conceded suggests giving up a point after resisting it; agreed suggests plain, willing agreement.
   • Nothing changes, because agreed and conceded both say the senator accepted that the amendment has flaws.
   • Conceded is the stronger word, so the revision says the flaws are more serious than the draft claims.
7. 6.

   The spokesperson explained the delay. Revision: The spokesperson justified the delay. Esme compares the draft and the revision. What changes when justified replaces explained?

   • Justified suggests the delay needed defending as reasonable; explained simply tells how it happened.
   • Nothing changes, because explained and justified both say the spokesperson spoke about the delay.
   • The revision says the delay was longer than the draft says, since justified is a bigger word.
   • Justified is a legal term, so the revision says the delay broke a rule that the spokesperson cited.

8. Text

   The county's report calls the old pump house abandoned. The last inspection was in 2009, and neighbors say the door has been padlocked for years.

9. 7.

   Ren asks what abandoned implies that vacant would not. Which implication fits the text?

   • That the neighbors are at fault for the poor condition of the building.
   • That the owner left it behind without caring for it or planning to return.
   • That someone still uses the building each week for storage.
   • That the building was torn down after the last inspection.

10. Text

    The principal called the student's essay derivative. It used the same three examples as the textbook, in the same order, with a few words changed.

11. 8.

    Milo asks what derivative implies that new would not. Which implication fits the text?

    • That the essay is hard to follow because it jumps between topics.
    • That the essay is original and unlike anything else the textbook says.
    • That the ideas came from another source instead of being the writer's own.
    • That the student copied dishonestly and should be punished.

12. Text

    The report described the stream as trickling after the dry summer. In July it was ankle-deep; by September a person could cross on three stones.

13. 9.

    Jun asks what trickling implies that flowing would not. Which implication fits the text?

    • That the stream had dried up completely and held no water.
    • That the stream was small and thin but still moving.
    • That the stream had become wide and fast after the summer.
    • That the town wasted its water and caused the shortage.

14. Text

    The coach praised the freshman's play as scrappy. The freshman was small for the team but chased every loose ball and won most of them.

15. 10.

    Kira asks what scrappy implies that skilled would not. Which implication fits the text?

    • That the player is undersized or outmatched but fights hard to compete.
    • That the player is naturally gifted and rarely has to try very hard.
    • That the player starts fights and breaks the rules of the game.
    • That the player is careless and sloppy with the ball in close games.